How to Save Water in Your Bathroom

There’s a reason a bathroom is called a “water closet”; it’s the room that uses the most water in the house. With small adjustments to your utilities and lifestyle, it’s surprising how much you can save on water, energy, and money.

Priority Plumbing & Drains recommends making these modifications to conserve water:

Upgrade Your Faucet to a Low-Flow Aerator

People use the sink more frequently than a shower or toilet, so this is the most important modification. Not only will you save water by adding an aerator to your sink’s faucet, you will save even more by choosing a low-flow model. Conventional faucets use about three gallons of water per minute, whereas low-flow aerators can use as little as one gallon per minute. With that in mind, imagine how many times you use the sink each day. You will save 50% of the water you normally use.

Fix Leaky Faucets

Many households dread fixing a leaky faucet and learn to live with it. Despite the irritation it causes, a leaky faucet can waste about 20 gallons of water each day. The next time you hear the perpetual dripping, fix it for the environment and your household’s sake.

Change Your Toilet for Low-Flow

A conventional toilet uses between five and seven gallons of water per flush, and a person flushes about five times a day, resulting in a lot of wasted water. We’re not going to tell you to limit the number of visits to the bathroom, but what you can do is purchase a low-flow toilet — they use only about 1.6 gallons per flush.

Check Your Toilet for Leaks

You don’t always realize when water is leaking, so a neat trick to confirm that you’re not inadvertently wasting water is by putting dye or food colouring in your toilet’s tank. If you see the dye appear in the bowl without flushing, then it’s time to call in the professionals.

Take Showers Instead of Baths

A 10-minute shower with a low-flow showerhead uses only about 25 gallons of water, compared to a bath that uses 35–50 gallons. Consider putting a clock in your bathroom for a visual reminder of the time, or set a timer to keep yourself on track while you shower. A radio can work just as well to keep you aware of time passing. As you shave or brush your teeth, keep the water off when you’re not using it.

Switch to a Low-Flow Showerhead

Low-flow showerheads have an average flow of 2.5 gallons of water per minute. A major benefit of this type of showerhead is that anyone can afford it. A standard low-flow showerhead can cost about $20, though fancier options, like a waterfall showerhead, will cost substantially more.

If you’re thinking of changing your shower or bath, schedule an appointment with Priority Plumbing & Drains near you. We handle all types of shower and bath issues to get your bathroom back in working order.